Neymar under fire for flouting social distancing rules

Footie superstar Neymar has denied flouting social distancing rules on his return to his native Brazil.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward posted pictures on Instagram which showed him sunbathing and playing foot-volleyball with a group of friends.

Amid the attendant criticism, Neymar said in a statement the people in the photographs had travelled with him from Paris in a private jet and were in quarantine with him.

“The photograph… shows Neymar alongside people who are in quarantine with him, people who travelled with him from Paris to Brazil,” said his spokesman in a statement published by the Globo media group in Brazil.

“Neymar invited those people to spend the 14 days in quarantine there before joining their respective families.”

The statement added the only visit he had received was from his son Davi Lucca and the striker had avoided meeting other relatives, including his mother, grandmother and sister.

“The house where the player is fulfilling quarantine is completely isolated, and allows peace and serenity for him to continue training,” it added.

“Neymar continues to do his daily workout, to prevent injury and maintain his fitness, with his coach Ricardo Rosa. [He is] looking forward to the end of this sad moment for humanity and the return to work.”